August 13, 2024

Back to School Time & Your Child?s Vision

It's back-to-school time, and your child could be struggling because of one of four vision problems that eye exams often don't pick up. 1. Eye tracking: If the eyes don't track properly through text, how…
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Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy

It’s back-to-school time, and your child could be struggling because of one of four vision problems that eye exams often don’t pick up.

1. Eye tracking: If the eyes don’t track properly through text, how would you expect somebody to read well? Take a look at the video on this page, at 0:21. The reader on the left – as you can see here, eyes don’t track properly through the text. She skips lines, loses her place, and mixes up the information. Her reading fluency sounds terrible, while the reader on the right is your average reader. Notice the difference?

2. How the eyes actually work together: On the video at 0:41, you can see here that the two eyes actually do the same thing while they’re tracking. On this one, the two eyes don’t work together at all. No wonder there’s problems! At 0:52 the is an example of a grade-10 girl when she was a C-student, and you can note the eyes not working together. At 0:57, when she’s an A-student, you can see that they do work together.

3. Eye focusing: If the eyes don’t shift their focus accurately, sustaining attention is much harder and it’s even hard to copy off the board.

4. How the brain makes sense of visual information: This has everything to do with the visual memory required for spelling or understanding the difference between the hand motions I make in the video at 1:19,  which is at the heart of a lot of letter reversals. So, if your child is struggling in school, even though they may have had an eye exam, please make sure to have their eye tracking, teaming, focusing and the visual processing tested. Find a developmental or neurological optometrist near you. Browse our site for more information.

Happy learning!

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Our Victoria Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
200-775 Topaz Ave
Victoria, BC V8T 4Z7
Phone
(250) 590-7384
Fax
250-412-6459
Email
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  • Monday:
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  • Tuesday:
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  • Wednesday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Thursday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Friday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Saturday:
    8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Sunday:
    Closed
Rating
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Out of 265 Reviews
Our Nanaimo Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
205-1825 Bowen Rd
Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1
Phone
(250) 591-0270
Fax
250-412-6459
Email
(Do not send personal health information by email.)
  • Monday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Tuesday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Wednesday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Thursday:
    11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Friday:
    9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Saturday:
    Closed
  • Sunday:
    Closed
Rating
4.9
Out of 59 Reviews

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  • What is Neuro-Optometry?

    Neuro-Optometry focuses on the intricate connection between your visual system and the brain, extending beyond traditional eye care to assess functional vision. This branch of optometry examines how your eyes track, move, coordinate, and how your brain processes depth, motion, and balance. Disruptions in these functions can lead to a range of issues including headaches, migraines, dizziness, balance challenges, post-concussion symptoms, reading difficulties, and attention deficits (ADHD). By exploring these functional areas, we also identify opportunities to enhance performance in activities such as sports, reading speed, and cognitive processes.

  • What is Vision Therapy?

    At Opto-Mization, vision therapy is a specialized, personalized program aimed at improving visual skills and abilities. It goes beyond traditional vision therapy to help improve how the eyes and brain work together, addressing visual-motor and perceptual-cognitive challenges to enhance overall visual function. It’s more than just exercises; it’s a pathway to better vision and improved daily life.

  • Do you Provide Regular Eye Exams and General Optometric Services?

    Yes, alongside vision therapy and neuro-optometry, we offer comprehensive eye exams and general optometry services. Our experienced optometrists perform thorough eye exams to evaluate overall eye health, identify any eye conditions or diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses when beneficial.

  • Who is the Ideal Candidate for Vision Therapy and Neuro-Optometry?

    Vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help individuals of all ages. Whether you’re struggling with visual processing issues, binocular vision disorders, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), or have sustained a brain injury, our services might be beneficial for you. Contact us to discuss if our tailored approach can meet your specific needs and goals.

  • Do I Need a Referral to See an Optometrist at Opto-Mization?

    No, you do not need a referral for an eye exam at Opto-Mization. We welcome anyone who suspects they might benefit from our services, whether you’re experiencing symptoms of visual discomfort or just want to ensure optimal visual performance. Feel free to reach out and schedule your appointment directly with us to take the first step toward understanding and improving your visual function.

  • Do You Direct Bill Insurance?

    Yes, we offer direct billing for a variety of insurance plans to make the process as seamless and hassle-free as possible for our patients. Our knowledgeable staff is well-versed in working with insurance providers, ensuring that you can maximize your benefits while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses for our services, including vision therapy and eye exams.